It is late at night, and you are scrolling through Instagram, seeing one picture-perfect moment after another. Everyone is having the time of their lives on vacation, out with friends, or just looking effortlessly cool. As you scroll, a little voice creeps into your mind: “Why isn’t my life like that?”
We have all been there. Social media can feel like an endless highlight reel of everyone’s best moments. But behind those perfectly filtered photos and carefully crafted posts, there is often a lot more going on than meets the eye. While social media connects us with friends and helps us stay informed, it can also have a significant impact on our self-esteem and well-being.
The Trap of Comparison
One of the biggest pitfalls of social media is the temptation to compare ourselves to others. It’s easy to look at someone’s feed and feel like you’re not measuring up. But here is the truth: most people only post the good stuff. The bad days, the struggles, and the messy moments are often left out of the picture
https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/empowering-young-adults/how-to-stop-comparing/
The Effects on Self-Esteem
Scrolling through social media can sometimes feel like endless competition. Who has the most expensive clothes? The best vacations destinations and perfect relationship. It is natural to want to compare yourself to others, but doing so too often can chip away at your self-esteem.
Studies by the Social Media victims Law Centre show that constant exposure to these idealised versions of life can lead to feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and even depression. It can make you question your own worth, your appearance, or your achievements. But here is the thing, social media does not define who you are.
Think about it: does the number of likes you get on a post really reflect your value as a person? Of course not. But it can be hard to remember that when social media creates an environment where validation comes in the form of likes, comments, and followers
https://socialmediavictims.org/mental-health/self-esteem/
A Personal Account
One day, I decided to take a break from social media. At first, it felt strange not checking my feed, but soon I noticed something: I felt lighter. I was not constantly comparing myself to others or worrying about how I looked online. I spent more time focusing on my day-to-day activities, Maximising my productivity levels at work, personally socialising with my friends, this gave me a feeling on how we lived life pre the social media freeze era, and felt how great it was again to not seek any validation from people I barely know.
Social media is a great tool for staying connected, but it is important to remember that it is just one part of life, not the whole picture. By learning to socialise and connect it in a healthy way, you can protect your self-esteem and mental health and focus on what really matters: living your life, not just posting about it.